Attitude of Gratitude--I'm grateful for good health

This is a blog post from my daughter. If you'd like to help, send me your email address (annie.oswald@gmail.com) and I'll pass along the address to you too. Merry Christmas.

From Leisy:

I couldn't think of a better way to reach more people to ask this favor. We have some friends here in Toledo whose eight year old son was diagnosed this week with an extremely rare form of cancer. The prognosis is not good and the family just wants to enjoy the last bit of time they have together. The little boy LOVES mail and Christmas. His grandmother is also a close friend and when I asked her what we could do- she said we could send he and his brother mail of any sort. I know he'd love to get mail from places besides Toledo so I thought I'd ask friends to send him some. Christmas cards or letters or anything would be wonderful. He loves spongebob, cooking, and all other normal eight year old stuff.

I don't want to post their names and addresses on my blog- so if you'd send me an e-mail (leisyoswald@hotmail.com), or comment with your e-mail address, I can send you one with the information! Thanks so much!

Attitude of Gratitude: I'm grateful for the Christmas Season

Amazing Grace Techno - Computer Controlled Christmas Lights from Richard Holdman on Vimeo.

Attitude of Gratitude Day ?

I'm behind---again. But today I am grateful for extended family. I feel truly blessed to belong to a loving and supportive family.

We (Phil, Daysa, Rosemary and I) went to Boise, Idaho for Thanksgiving. David and Michelle hosted the event (meaning they found the location and provided the turkey and potatoes--along with lots of other stuff).

It was fun to see Ben and Chantal and new baby Jet and Kristen and Matt and new baby Sawyer.

In addition Howells, Michelle's parents and sister and husband and son were there too.


Here we are lining up for the yummy yummy food. I especially liked the moist turkey, Linda's yams, and my stuffing (made with cornbread, pecans, apples, and craisins).



I'm pretty sure Bryson ate too much. I don't know how many desserts there were (pumpkin, pecan, chocolate, peanut butter, two kinds of apple, oatmeal cake, ice cream) but it was ALL gone when we left.



And lastly, I'm really grateful that I am part of a family of game players. Thanks everybody for humoring me (Matt, Bobby, Ben, Bridger, and Chele)!

I thought you might be interested...

By Diane Roback -- Publishers Weekly, 12/3/2009 11:40:00 AM

Hunger Games fans have just eight more months to wait: the as yet untitled third and final book in Suzanne Collins’s dystopian fantasy trilogy will be released in English worldwide on August 24, 2010.

Attitude of Gratitude Day 6

I love the mountains and deserts of Utah.


Mt. Timp from our neighborhood (Daysa photo)










Mt. Timpanogos taken from a helicopter ride.










Phil at Delicate Arch













Sunset from my back porch.

Attitude of Gratitude Day 5

Today I'm grateful for my dream job. I love what I do. I love the people I work with. I love the travel. I love the people I meet and the places I go. I love the books. I love our corporate mission.

I know you think I'm nuts but it took me a long time to get here. And yes, there are days I hate the job, the problems, the politics, etc. etc. but mostly it's worth all the hassle.

So, since you're reading this, I've been part of the team that is creating, writing, reviewing, marketing and now-releasing a brand new book called Great Work, Great Career. The book comes out in December and I really really like it. I haven't loved every book we release but this one I do. This book reminded me of why I do what I do and how I can do it better.

Triple gratitude today

Today I'm thankful for my husband's daughters' children: Zeb, Henry, and Friedrick (Ike)---OK, OK, they're my grandchildren too.

But they are A-dorable! They are healthy and happy and smart. Their parents are so much better at this than I was. I'm so proud of them. I miss these boys lots but I must admit I love that they live far away. It makes the stories more fun, the adventures more adventuresome, and absence does make the heart grow fonder.

Attitude of Gratitude Day 2

Today I'm thankful for an incredibly intelligent, talented, good looking, and occasionally obsessive husband. I'm REALLY glad that we still have that zing in our relationship--he still knows how to get my blood racing.


Recently someone commented to me that they were amazed at how we kept our relationship alive. I am too but it's working. He's the best thing that ever happened to me.
As Phil would say "Yeah, baby, that's what I'm talking about."

The Attitude of Gratitude

I'm back and recommitted to keeping up on my blog. It's November and time to think about all that I'm grateful. I'm going to post something here every day through the end of the year.

I'm thankful for my four beautiful, intelligent, and kind daughters--they are my heroes.



What are you thankful for?

And still more bridals...

Metta's bridal pix

These are just a few of Metta's bridal photos. I'd be interested in which one you like the best.

These pictures were taken at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi. It was a very hot evening and we were worried that it wouldn't be a good photo shoot. As you can see these pictures are stunning.

The big day is August 29.

More Trip Pix!

View from the Coliseum in Rome.



Ahh, Florence! It was beautiful. Here we are at the Duomo and then at Ponte Vecchio. It was all beautiful. I would love to go back and spend more time in Firenza!

A most pleasant surpise was the Field of Miraces and the Leaning Tower or Pisa. Pisa was between the port and Florence. We decided we would see Pisa only if we had time--we did, and it was well worth the extra taxi fare.



Gargoyles (one of my favorite things about Europe are gargoyles) on the Leaning Tower of Pisa.


Arch d'Triomphe and Notre Dame Cathedral in the rain.





Last day of holiday was a rainy afternoon and evening in Paris. When we got to the Eiffel Tower the sun came out and it was stunning. We ate at a little Parisian restaurant down this street and sat by the window and watched the people.

I have TONS more pix. You only have to ask.

Mediterranean Cruise

For all of you who have asked, and even if you haven't asked, here are some pix of our cruise

We boarded the ship in Barcelona on May 31, June 1 we were at sea all day.

June 2, we arrived in Malta in the morning and went ashore.

We took a boat tour of the harbors of Malta.









That night we cruised to Naples and the next day we did a tour of Pompeii. That is Mt. Vesuvius you can see through the doorway.

Archaeologists continue to excavate and uncover bodies preserved in ash.



We returned to the ship and cruised that night and awoke to a new day in Rome. This was our marathon day! We took a 90 minute train into Rome and hurried to the Vatican Museum before the lines got too large (sorry but we couldn't take pictures of the famous Sistine Chapel!). Then over to a line to get into St. Peter's Basilica, the largest cathedral in the world.









Outdoors to the taxi stand and we took a cab to the Pantheon, over to Trevi Fountain (on Daysa's list of must sees),

a slice of pizza on a side street in a local eatery, walked to Capital Hill, the Forum,

and lastly to the Coliseum. Whew! What a day! The pictures are in order of the day.


It was on a train to Rome where we ran into some missionaries. It was like seeing someone from home.

And I'll post more later with the rest of the trip. I've spent enough time on this today. I've GOTTA get my house cleaned after a week at Girls Camp.

Birthday Boys

June 1 was Zebby's 2nd birthday and June 6 was Henry P's 1st birthday.



I missed both but I wanted to give a shout out to my two favorite little boys. Love you both and love your parents.

A Week in Toledo

So last Tuesday, February 3, Phil and I flew off to balmy (ha ha) Toledo, OH to help Leisy with baby #2. We returned on Sunday, February 8. We hated to leave Zeb, Ike, Leisy, Kent, Henry, Taylor and Laney but poor Daysa needed her parents.


Go to Leisy's blog (kentandleisy.blogspot.com)to read the whole gory story including pictures of the placenta (gross!).